The list keeps growing!
The Charlotte Hornets have joined the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets in making a win-now move this afternoon ahead of the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline. The East’s 9th-place team has reached a deal with the Washington Wizards to acquire big man Montrezl Harrell. And going to Washington in return appears to be Vernon Carey Jr., Ish Smith, and a second-round pick.
Charlotte is acquiring Washington center Montrezl Harrell for Vernon Carey and Ish Smith, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 10, 2022
Washington is trading Montrezl Harrell to Charlotte for Ish Smith, Vernon Carey and a second-round pick, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 10, 2022
The Hornets have been long rumored as in the market for improvement at the center position. The team holds the 24th-ranked defense in the NBA and the 2nd-worst rebounding percentage in the league. To be sure, Harrell isn’t known for being a stout defender, but he does provide the team with another big and physical body to throw in the post. He should also help clean up the boards and give savvy second-year point guard LaMelo Ball a more athletic interior presence.
For the Wizards this seems to signal tank mode. The team had already slipped to the East’s 11th seed, and news that they had lost superstar Bradley Beal for the rest of the season due to a wrist injury dropped earlier this week. The organization also went on to quickly flip young guard Aaron Holiday to the Suns.
The Wizards are trading Aaron Holiday to Phoenix, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 10, 2022
As a reminder – like you don’t already know – the Bulls are already an undersized team, who need to get bigger themselves before the deadline (or by chasing buyouts). Every time an East team gets bigger in trade, it makes the Bulls needs more evident *and* takes a possible solution for Chicago off the board.